History Syllabus
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LEAVING CERTIFICATE HISTORY SYLLABUS (ORDINARY AND HIGHER LEVELS) • LEAVING CERTIFICATE HISTORY SYLLABUS • CONTENTS Preface......................................................................................................2 The nature of history.............................................................................2 The nature of the syllabus .....................................................................2 Aims and objectives .................................................................................3 Aims......................................................................................................3 Objectives .............................................................................................3 Syllabus framework and requirements ...................................................5 Syllabus framework — diagram .............................................................6 Differentiation .......................................................................................7 I: Working with evidence ......................................................................8 II: Topics for study ..............................................................................11 Assessment .............................................................................................14 The report on the research study.........................................................14 The terminal examination paper..........................................................14 Syllabus topics........................................................................................17 Early Modern Ireland ...........................................................................17 Early Modern Europe and the wider world ..........................................25 Later Modern Ireland...........................................................................33 Later Modern Europe and the wider world..........................................41 1 • LEAVING CERTIFICATE HISTORY SYLLABUS • PREFACE The nature of history our historical understanding. This gives history a unique potential to develop the student's skills of critical Human experience – the concern of history thinking. Living within a changing world, the student of History deals with the experience of human life in the history will learn that his/her own judgements past. The study of history involves an investigation of the concerning the nature of historical events should be surviving evidence relating to such experience. It brings the subjected to the most searching analysis and criticism. student of history into contact with human experiences, which are often very different from his/her own. Thus, the student gains insight into other ways of life, other ways of The nature of the syllabus thinking, other solutions to recurrent human problems. The principle underlying the syllabus is that the study of The study of human experience in the past, its history should be regarded as an exploration of what particularity and its variety, is indispensable to a student’s historians believe to have happened, based on an enquiry developing understanding of the human condition and into the available evidence. human motivation. In encountering, through the study of The following are some of the main features of the syllabus: evidence, the past experiences of his/her own community, the student gains valuable insights into the roots of his/her In-depth study: own identity and inherited traditions. The syllabus involves a detailed study of a number of historical topics and it provides the opportunity to study Time and change – the essence of history aspects of these topics in greater depth. This approach Since change is an essential aspect of the human allows for greater appreciation of the complexities inherent condition, it is a matter of fundamental concern to the in the challenge of interpreting the past and the making of student of history. Time and change, indeed, may be reasoned judgements based on an evaluation of evidence. described as the essence of history. While other disciplines investigate aspects of human life, human Emphasis on skills: institutions and cultural traditions, only history is The in-depth approach facilitates an emphasis on primarily engaged with measuring and explaining the developing the skills of history; in particular, skills in manner in which all of these have undergone the working with evidence and research skills. experience of change. Since the rates of historical change vary enormously (slow-moving for long-lasting Working with evidence: structures and traditions, faster for wars and revolutions), it is the task of the historian to offer an The study of one of the topics will involve the explanation of the dynamic involved in each instance. structured use of historical documents. This will allow The student of history will learn of the centrality of the student to develop expertise in the evaluation of change to all human experience and of the complex evidence and the capacity to make reasoned judgements. manner in which different modes of change interact. Research study: Developing understanding – the revision Involvement in research is an integral part of the of history syllabus. While offering an insight into the manner in The study and writing of history is no more static than which historians operate, the skills developed through life itself. New evidence and new insights can lead to such study have a wide applicability. revision of the historical record and to a deepening of 2 • LEAVING CERTIFICATE HISTORY SYLLABUS • AIMS AND OBJECTIVES Aims Objectives Knowledge and understanding Knowledge and understanding 1. To develop knowledge and understanding of human 1. Students should acquire knowledge and develop activity in the past. understanding of 2. To promote understanding of the present through the • the specific listed elements of the topics studied development of a historical perspective on issues of contemporary importance. •how the actions and experiences of previous generations have helped influence the world of 3. To develop knowledge and understanding of Irish, their successors European and world history. •how elements of the Irish history topics studied fit 4. To develop students' understanding of historical into a broader international context. Depending on concepts. the topic in question, that context may involve consideration of such aspects as 5. To provide students with a perspective of change in a world of change. -the British dimension - the European dimension Skills of history - the global dimension 1. To develop an awareness of different interpretations of - the Irish diaspora particular historical issues. • human activity in the past, from a variety of 2. To develop a range of research skills essential for the perspectives. In studying human activity in the study of history. past, attention should be given to the experiences of women. The main forms of activity to be studied 3. To develop an appreciation of the nature and variety of may be categorised as follows: historical evidence. - administrative Preparation for life and citizenship - cultural 1. To develop the ability to think critically. - economic 2. To develop positive values associated with the study of - political history. - religious - scientific 3. To develop in students an appreciation of the society in which they live and of other societies, past and present. - social. 4. To develop in students an informed and critical awareness of their historical inheritance. 3 • LEAVING CERTIFICATE HISTORY SYLLABUS • 2. Students should develop an understanding of, and an • locate historical data from a variety of primary ability to apply such concepts as are fundamental to and/or secondary sources the study and writing of history e.g. • select and record relevant data •procedural concepts •evaluate data - source and evidence •collate data - fact and opinion •present findings in a well-structured, logical format. - bias and objectivity 3. Skills in working with evidence •interpretative concepts Students should develop the ability to - change and continuity •recognise different types of historical source - cause and consequence materials - comparison and contrast • extract information from source materials to answer historical questions • substantive concepts •evaluate the usefulness of particular sources and - power and authority their limitations - conflict and reconciliation • detect bias - democracy and human rights • identify propaganda. - culture and civilisation - economy and society Preparation for life and citizenship - identity and community Through their study of history, students should acquire a - space and time. unique combination of skill and understanding, which will contribute to their personal growth as individuals and Skills of history help to prepare them for life and work in society. Students should develop a range of skills associated with 1. Students should develop the ability to the study and writing of history. • think critically by making judgements based on an 1. Recognition of the nature of historical knowledge evaluation of evidence. Students should learn to 2. Students should develop positive values associated with •recognise that historical knowledge is tentative and the study of history. They should learn to incomplete and, accordingly, subject to revision • be thorough in the collecting of information and and/or reinterpretation accurate in its recording •recognise that historical writing must be based on • be aware of bias